Update: Fugitive Eric Dewayne Russell In Custody Following Capture In Walton County

May 12, 2017

A man on the run from law enforcement for the last four days is now in custody after being tracked down in Walton County Thursday night.

31-year old Eric Dewayne Russell, no known address, faces charges from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission and Coffee County Alabama Sheriff’s Office in connection with a recent crime spree involving stolen vehicles and attempts to elude capture.

The OCSO charges include grand theft of a firearm, grand theft of a vehicle, resisting arrest, and possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon.

Russell had been on the run since Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers initially attempted to pull him over for a traffic stop May 7th on Highway 90 near the Santa Rosa County line. Russell fled the scene and later got the truck stuck near railroad tracks off Al Gilman Road. He then ran into the woods and disappeared. Deputies later learned the truck he had been driving was reported stolen out of Coffee County Alabama. A handgun, also believed stolen, was recovered from inside the vehicle.

Investigators say Russell was able to elude a search in the Laurel Hill area on Friday by stealing a truck that had the keys inside.

The effort to track Russell extended into Walton County, where last night Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted him around 10 p.m. walking in the area of Adams Drive and Wallace Road. He was apprehended following a short foot pursuit. Russell was taken to North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview for treatment before being transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.

The OCSO wants to thank the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa Correctional Institution K9 Unit, Florida Fish & Wildlife officers, and others who assisted in the effort to capture Russell